Poland marks 19 years in NATO

Poland marked 19 years in NATO on 12 March after establishing diplomatic relations with the alliance in 1990.

NATO. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

After nine years of diplomatic ties, Polish parliament adopted a law on the ratification of the North Atlantic Treaty and in February 1999 the then head of state Aleksander Kwasniewski signed the accession act.

On 12 March 1999, Bronislaw Geremek, who served as Poland's foreign minister at that time, handed over the ratifying document to the then US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Joining the Alliance alongside Poland were Hungary and the Czech Republic.

“March 12th is an important date in Poland’s calendar”, said Mariusz Błaszczak, Poland's defence minister, speaking at a ceremony on Monday.

“The 19 years of membership has built a sense of security and close cooperation with the alliance's members. Poland's position within the structures is gaining importance; this was confirmed by the NATO summit in Warsaw in 2016," Błaszczak added.